Morocco cuts water use due to drought

Morocco’s interior ministry ordered a ban of using drinking water to irrigate public parks, swimming pools, and cleaning streets due to a shortage of rainfall.

The alarm bell was rung a few days ago in Parliament by water Minister Nizar Baraka who said five years of consecutive droughts left dam filling rate at a critical 23% capacity.

Rainfall was 67% lower so far this year, compared to an average year, auguring ill for a rain dependent farming sector.

“The water deficit reported in many regions, notably the south and the north, is very serious,” Baraka said, warning “the situation is disastrous.”

Proactive measures, such as the waterway channeling water to Rabat and Casablanca, have spared the two cities water-cuts, he said.

The desalination plants launched by OCP in El Jadida and Safi are also planned to start pumping fresh water in 2024, he said, as the government plans a larger plant in Casablanca to be ready by 2027.

Drought means lower economic growth as the farming sector represents 14% of Morocco’s GDP. It would also trigger higher fresh produce prices and higher unemployment in rural areas.